U.S. patent application number 15/486083 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-19 for frequency hopping in ofdma wireless networks.
The applicant listed for this patent is QUALCOMM Incorporated. Invention is credited to Raja Banerjea, Michael Richard Green, Vincent Knowles Jones, IV, Youhan Kim, Bin Tian, Sameer Vermani.
Application Number | 20170303275 15/486083 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60039170 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170303275 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Banerjea; Raja ; et
al. |
October 19, 2017 |
FREQUENCY HOPPING IN OFDMA WIRELESS NETWORKS
Abstract
Method and systems are disclosed for qualifying a wireless
device as frequency hopping device. In some aspects, an access
point (AP) may determine a frequency hopping pattern for the
wireless device, and then allocate a sequence of unique resource
units to the wireless device based on the frequency hopping
pattern. Each of the unique resource units include a different set
of frequency subcarriers. The AP may receive a series of uplink
orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) transmissions
from the wireless device on the allocated sequence of unique
resource units.
Inventors: |
Banerjea; Raja; (San Jose,
CA) ; Green; Michael Richard; (Needham, MA) ;
Tian; Bin; (San Diego, CA) ; Jones, IV; Vincent
Knowles; (Redwood City, CA) ; Kim; Youhan;
(San Jose, CA) ; Vermani; Sameer; (San Diego,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QUALCOMM Incorporated |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
60039170 |
Appl. No.: |
15/486083 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62321930 |
Apr 13, 2016 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 72/0446 20130101;
H04W 84/12 20130101; H04B 1/713 20130101; H04L 5/0007 20130101;
H04W 88/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 72/04 20090101
H04W072/04; H04L 5/00 20060101 H04L005/00; H04B 1/713 20110101
H04B001/713 |
Claims
1. A method for qualifying a wireless device as frequency hopping
device, comprising: determining a frequency hopping pattern for the
wireless device; allocating a sequence of unique resource units to
the wireless device based on the frequency hopping pattern, each of
the unique resource units including a different set of frequency
subcarriers; and receiving, from the wireless device, a series of
uplink orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA)
transmissions on the allocated sequence of unique resource units
during a sequence period.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the allocating causes the
wireless device to frequency hop between the unique resource units
for at least the sequence period.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the unique resource units
is associated with a corresponding one of a series of transmit
opportunities (TXOPs).
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, to the
wireless device, a trigger frame that allocates the sequence of
unique resource units to the wireless device and indicates that the
wireless device is to successively frequency hop between more than
a specified number of the unique resource units.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the trigger frame contains one of
an indication that the wireless device is to dwell on each of the
unique resource units for less than a duration and an indication
that an accumulated dwell time in the unique resource units is to
be no more than a time period greater than a duration of the
sequence of unique resource units.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the dwell time is 400
milliseconds, the time period is 15 milliseconds, and the sequence
includes at least 15 unique resource units.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the trigger frame contains a
frequency hopping schedule indicating a unique frequency hopping
pattern for each of a plurality of wireless devices to transmit
uplink data using OFDMA communications.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the allocating comprises:
assigning, to each of a plurality of resource units, a count value
equal to zero; allocating a first of the plurality of resource
units to the wireless device for a first transmit opportunity
(TXOP); resetting the count value of the first resource unit to a
maximum value based on its allocation to the wireless device; and
decrementing the count value of the first resource unit by one
during a next TXOP.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the maximum value of the count
value is based on a number of successive frequency hops associated
with qualifying the wireless device as a frequency hopping
device.
10. An access point (AP), comprising: one or more processors; and a
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more
processors, cause the AP to qualify a wireless device as frequency
hopping device by: determining a frequency hopping pattern for the
wireless device; allocating a sequence of unique resource units to
the wireless device based on the frequency hopping pattern, each of
the unique resource units including a different set of frequency
subcarriers; and receiving, from the wireless device, a series of
uplink orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA)
transmissions on the allocated sequence of unique resource units
during a sequence period.
11. The AP of claim 10, wherein the allocating causes the wireless
device to frequency hop between the unique resource units for at
least the sequence period.
12. The AP of claim 10, wherein each of the unique resource units
is associated with a corresponding one of a series of transmit
opportunities (TXOPs).
13. The AP of claim 10, wherein execution of the instructions
causes the AP to further: transmit, to the wireless device, a
trigger frame that allocates the sequence of unique resource units
to the wireless device and indicates that the wireless device is to
successively frequency hop between more than a specified number of
the unique resource units.
14. The AP of claim 13, wherein the trigger frame contains one of
an indication that the wireless device is to dwell on each of the
unique resource units for less than a duration and an indication
that an accumulated dwell time in the unique resource units is to
be no more than a time period greater than a duration of the
sequence of unique resource units.
15. The AP of claim 14, wherein the dwell time is 400 milliseconds,
the time period is 15 milliseconds, and the sequence includes at
least 15 unique resource units.
16. The AP of claim 13, wherein the trigger frame contains a
frequency hopping schedule indicating a unique frequency hopping
pattern for each of a plurality of wireless devices to transmit
uplink data using OFDMA communications.
17. The AP of claim 10, wherein execution of the instructions for
allocating the sequence of unique resource units causes the AP to:
assign, to each of a plurality of resource units, a count value
equal to zero; allocate a first of the plurality of resource units
to the wireless device for a first transmit opportunity (TXOP);
reset the count value of the first resource unit to a maximum value
based on its allocation to the wireless device; and decrement the
count value of the first resource unit by one during a next
TXOP.
18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising
instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an
access point (AP), cause the AP to perform operations comprising:
determining a frequency hopping pattern for a wireless device;
allocating a sequence of unique resource units to the wireless
device based on the frequency hopping pattern, each of the unique
resource units including a different set of frequency subcarriers;
and receiving, from the wireless device, a series of uplink
orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) transmissions
on the allocated sequence of unique resource units during a
sequence period.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18,
wherein the allocating causes the wireless device to frequency hop
between the unique resource units for at least the sequence
period.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18,
wherein execution of the instructions causes the AP to perform
operations further comprising: transmitting, to the wireless
device, a trigger frame that allocates the sequence of unique
resource units to the wireless device and indicates that the
wireless device is to successively frequency hop between more than
a specified number of the unique resource units.
21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20,
wherein the trigger frame contains one of an indication that the
wireless device is to dwell on each of the unique resource units
for less than a duration and an indication that an accumulated
dwell time in the unique resource units is to be no more than a
time period greater than a duration of the sequence of unique
resource units.
22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21,
wherein the dwell time is 400 milliseconds, the time period is 15
milliseconds, and the sequence includes at least 15 unique resource
units.
23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20,
wherein the trigger frame contains a frequency hopping schedule
indicating a unique frequency hopping pattern for each of a
plurality of wireless devices to transmit uplink data using OFDMA
communications.
24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18,
wherein execution of the instructions for allocating the sequence
of unique resource units causes the AP to perform operations
further comprising: assigning, to each of a plurality of resource
units, a count value equal to zero; allocating a first of the
plurality of resource units to the wireless device for a first
transmit opportunity (TXOP); resetting the count value of the first
resource unit to a maximum value based on its allocation to the
wireless device; and decrementing the count value of the first
resource unit by one during a next TXOP.
25. A wireless station, comprising: one or more processors; and a
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more
processors, cause the wireless station to qualify as a frequency
hopping device by: receiving a frequency hopping pattern; receiving
an allocation of a sequence of unique resource units based on the
frequency hopping pattern, each of the unique resource units
including a different set of frequency subcarriers; and
transmitting a series of orthogonal frequency-division multiple
access (OFDMA) data transmissions on the allocated sequence of
unique resource units during a sequence period.
26. The wireless station of claim 25, wherein execution of the
instructions causes the wireless station to further: receive a
trigger frame that allocates the sequence of unique resource units
to the wireless station and indicates that the wireless station is
to successively frequency hop between more than a specified number
of the unique resource units.
27. The wireless station of claim 26, wherein the trigger frame
contains one of an indication that the wireless station is to dwell
on each of the unique resource units for less than a duration and
an indication that an accumulated dwell time in the unique resource
units is to be no more than a time period greater than a duration
of the sequence of unique resource units.
28. The wireless station of claim 27, wherein the dwell time is 400
milliseconds, the time period is 15 milliseconds, and the sequence
includes at least 15 unique resource units.
29. The wireless station of claim 26, wherein the trigger frame
contains a frequency hopping schedule indicating a unique frequency
hopping pattern for each of a plurality of wireless devices to
transmit uplink data using OFDMA communications.
30. The wireless station of claim 25, wherein each of the unique
resource units is associated with a corresponding one of a series
of transmit opportunities (TXOPs).
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 62/321,930 filed on Apr. 13, 2016 entitled
FREQUENCY HOPPING IN OFDMA WIRELESS NETWORKS," assigned to the
assignee hereof. The disclosure of the prior application is
considered part of and is incorporated by reference in this patent
application.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to wireless networks, and
specifically to employing frequency hopping techniques in wireless
local area networks.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNOLOGY
[0003] A wireless local area network (WLAN) may be formed by one or
more access points (APs) that provide a shared wireless medium for
use by a number of wireless devices or stations (STAs). Each AP,
which may correspond to a Basic Service Set (BSS), periodically
broadcasts beacon frames to enable any STAs within wireless range
of the AP to establish and maintain a communication link with the
WLAN. Wireless networks that operate in accordance with the IEEE
802.11 family of standards may be referred to as Wi-Fi networks,
and wireless devices that transmit signals according to
communication protocols specified by the IEEE 802.11 family of
standards may be referred to as Wi-Fi devices.
[0004] The wireless range of a Wi-Fi device may be related to its
transmission power level. For example, wireless signals transmitted
at higher power levels typically travel farther than wireless
signals transmitted at lower power levels. Many governmental
regulations impose a power spectral density limit on the
transmission power of wireless devices. These power spectral
density limits may undesirably limit the range of Wi-Fi
devices.
SUMMARY
[0005] The systems, methods and devices of this disclosure each
have several innovative aspects, no single one of which is solely
responsible for the desirable attributes disclosed herein.
[0006] One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in
this disclosure can be implemented in a Wi-Fi network to increase
the wireless range of Wi-Fi devices without violating power
spectral density limits imposed by governmental regulations. In
some implementations, a wireless device may employ frequency
hopping techniques during OFDMA transmissions to qualify as a
frequency hopping device. Because many governmental regulations
impose less stringent power spectral density limits on frequency
hopping devices than on Wi-Fi devices, qualifying the wireless
device as a frequency hopping device during OFDMA transmissions may
allow the wireless device to transmit data at the higher power
levels associated with frequency hopping devices. In this manner,
aspects of the present disclosure may increase the wireless range
of Wi-Fi devices without violating power spectral density limits
imposed by governmental regulations.
[0007] In some implementations, an access point (AP) can include
one or more processors and a memory storing instructions. The
instructions can be executed by the one or more processors to cause
the AP to qualify a wireless device as frequency hopping device by
determining a frequency hopping pattern for the wireless device;
allocating a sequence of unique resource units to the wireless
device based on the frequency hopping pattern, each of the unique
resource units including a different set of frequency subcarriers;
and receiving, from the wireless device, a series of uplink
orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) transmissions
on the allocated sequence of unique resource units during a
sequence period.
[0008] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in
this disclosure can be implemented as a method for qualifying a
wireless device as frequency hopping device. The method can include
determining a frequency hopping pattern for the wireless device;
allocating a sequence of unique resource units to the wireless
device based on the frequency hopping pattern, each of the unique
resource units including a different set of frequency subcarriers;
and receiving, from the wireless device, a series of uplink
orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) transmissions
on the allocated sequence of unique resource units during a
sequence period.
[0009] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in
this disclosure can be implemented in a non-transitory
computer-readable medium. The non-transitory computer-readable
medium can comprise instructions that, when executed by one or more
processors of an AP, cause the AP to qualify a wireless device as
frequency hopping device by performing operations that include
determining a frequency hopping pattern for the wireless device;
allocating a sequence of unique resource units to the wireless
device based on the frequency hopping pattern, each of the unique
resource units including a different set of frequency subcarriers;
and receiving, from the wireless device, a series of uplink
orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) transmissions
on the allocated sequence of unique resource units during a
sequence period.
[0010] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in
this disclosure can be implemented in an apparatus. The apparatus
can include means for determining a frequency hopping pattern for
the wireless device; means for allocating a sequence of unique
resource units to the wireless device based on a frequency hopping
pattern, each of the unique resource units including a different
set of frequency subcarriers; and means for receiving, from the
wireless device, a series of uplink orthogonal frequency-division
multiple access (OFDMA) transmissions on the allocated sequence of
unique resource units during a sequence period.
[0011] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in
this disclosure can be implemented in a wireless station. The
wireless station can include one or more processors and a memory.
The memory can store instructions that, when executed by the one or
more processors, cause the wireless station to qualify as a
frequency hopping device by: receiving a frequency hopping pattern;
receiving an allocation of a sequence of unique resource units
based on the frequency hopping pattern, each of the unique resource
units including a different set of frequency subcarriers; and
transmitting a series of orthogonal frequency-division multiple
access (OFDMA) data transmissions on the allocated sequence of
unique resource units during a sequence period. In some aspects,
the wireless station can receive a trigger frame that allocates the
sequence of unique resource units to the wireless station and
indicates that the wireless station is to successively frequency
hop between more than a specified number of the unique resource
units. The trigger frame also may contain one of an indication that
the wireless station is to dwell on each of the unique resource
units for less than a duration and an indication that an
accumulated dwell time in the unique resource units is to be no
more than a time period greater than a duration of the sequence of
unique resource units.
[0012] Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter
described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying
drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and
advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings
and the claims. Note that the relative dimensions of the following
figures may not be drawn to scale.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example wireless
system.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an example wireless
station.
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an example access point.
[0016] FIG. 4 shows an example subcarrier allocation diagram for
narrowband transmissions.
[0017] FIG. 5 shows a sequence diagram depicting an example
allocation of resource units for uplink transmissions.
[0018] FIG. 6A shows a sequence diagram depicting an example
allocation of resource units based on frequency hopping.
[0019] FIG. 6B shows a sequence diagram depicting another example
allocation of resource units based on frequency hopping.
[0020] FIG. 7A shows an illustration depicting example sequences of
resource units that may be used for frequency hopping during OFDMA
transmissions.
[0021] FIG. 7B shows an illustrative table depicting an example
construction of one of the resource unit sequences of FIG. 7A.
[0022] FIG. 8 shows an example trigger frame.
[0023] FIG. 9A shows an example Common Info field.
[0024] FIG. 9B shows an example Per User Info field.
[0025] FIG. 10 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting an
example operation for qualifying a wireless device as frequency
hopping device.
[0026] FIG. 11 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting an
example operation for allocating resource units to a wireless
device.
[0027] FIG. 12 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting an
example operation for a wireless station transmitting data using
resource units allocated based on a frequency hopping schedule.
[0028] Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts
throughout the drawing figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The following description is directed to certain
implementations for the purposes of describing the innovative
aspects of this disclosure. However, a person having ordinary skill
in the art will readily recognize that the teachings herein can be
applied in a multitude of different ways. The described
implementations may be implemented in any device, system or network
that is capable of transmitting and receiving RF signals according
to any of the IEEE 16.11 standards, or any of the IEEE 802.11
standards, the Bluetooth.RTM. standard, code division multiple
access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time
division multiple access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile
communications (GSM), GSM/General Packet Radio Service (GPRS),
Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Terrestrial Trunked Radio
(TETRA), Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA), Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO),
1.times.EV-DO, EV-DO Rev A, EV-DO Rev B, High Speed Packet Access
(HSPA), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High Speed
Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Evolved High Speed Packet Access
(HSPA+), Long Term Evolution (LTE), AMPS, or other known signals
that are used to communicate within a wireless, cellular or
internet of things (IOT) network, such as a system utilizing 3G, 4G
or 5G, or further implementations thereof, technology.
[0030] The range of a wireless device may be based at least in part
on its transmission power and transmission bandwidth. For example,
wireless signals transmitted at higher power levels typically
travel farther than wireless signals transmitted at lower power
levels, and wireless signals transmitted using a relatively wide
bandwidth typically travel farther than wireless signals
transmitted using a relatively narrow bandwidth. Governmental
regulations that impose power spectral density limits on the
transmission power of wireless devices may undesirably limit the
range of wireless devices. In many regions of the world, the power
spectral density limits imposed on frequency hopping devices are
less stringent than the power spectral density limits imposed on
Wi-Fi devices. For example, the European Telecommunications
Standards Institute (ETSI) imposes a 14 dBm power limit on Wi-Fi
devices that transmit data on a 2 MHz resource unit (RU) using
orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA)
communications, and imposes a 20 dBm power limit on frequency
hopping devices that transmit data on a 2 MHz channel In other
words, while a frequency hopping device may transmit data using a 2
MHz bandwidth at power levels up to 20 dBm, a Wi-Fi device
transmitting data using a 2 MHz bandwidth is limited 14 dBm.
[0031] Implementations of the subject matter described in this
disclosure may allow a Wi-Fi device to transmit wireless signals at
higher power levels by qualifying the Wi-Fi device as a frequency
hopping device. More specifically, in accordance with aspects of
the present disclosure, a Wi-Fi device can qualify as a frequency
hopping device by using frequency hopping techniques during OFDMA
transmissions. In some implementations, an access point (AP) can
determine a frequency hopping schedule that is compliant with
applicable power spectral density limits imposed on frequency
hopping devices, and then announce or otherwise indicate the
determined frequency hopping schedule to a number of Wi-Fi devices
associated with the AP. The AP also can allocate resource units
(RUs) to the number of Wi-Fi devices for uplink (UL) data
transmissions based on the determined frequency hopping schedule.
The Wi-Fi devices can receive the determined frequency hopping
schedule and the allocation of RUs, and thereafter transmit UL data
based on the determined frequency hopping schedule and the
allocated RUs.
[0032] As used herein, the term "associated AP" refers to an AP
with which a given STA is associated (such as there is an
established communication channel or link between the AP and the
given STA). The term "non-associated AP" refers to an AP with which
a given STA is not associated (such as there is not an established
communication channel or link between the AP and the given STA, and
thus the AP and the given STA may not yet exchange data frames).
The term "associated STA" refers to a STA that is associated with a
given AP, and the term "non-associated STA" refers to a STA that is
not associated with the given AP. Additionally, the term
"narrowband" may refer to a bandwidth that is less than 20 MHz
(such as a 2 MHz bandwidth, a 4 MHz bandwidth, an 8 MHz bandwidth,
and a 16 MHz bandwidth), and the term "wideband" may refer to a
bandwidth that is greater than or equal to 20 MHz (such as a
primary 20 MHz channel, a secondary 20 MHz channel, a secondary 40
MHz channel, a secondary 80 MHz channel, and so on).
[0033] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example wireless system
100. The wireless system 100 is shown to include four wireless
stations STA1-STA4, a wireless access point (AP) 110, and a
wireless local area network (WLAN) 120. The WLAN 120 may be formed
by a plurality of Wi-Fi access points (APs) that may operate
according to the IEEE 802.11 family of standards (or according to
other suitable wireless protocols). Thus, although only one AP 110
is shown in FIG. 1 for simplicity, it is to be understood that the
WLAN 120 may be formed by any number of access points such as the
AP 110. The AP 110 is assigned a unique MAC address that is
programmed therein by, for example, the manufacturer of the access
point. Similarly, each of the stations STA1-STA4 is also assigned a
unique MAC address. In some aspects, the AP 110 may assign an
association identification (AID) value to each of the stations
STA1-STA4, for example, so that the AP 110 may identify the
stations STA1-STA4 using their assigned AID values.
[0034] In some implementations, the WLAN 120 may allow for
multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications between the AP
110 and the stations STA1-STA4. The MIMO communications may include
single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) and multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO)
communications. In some aspects, the WLAN 120 may utilize a
multiple channel access mechanism such as, for example, an
orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) mechanism.
Although the WLAN 120 is depicted in FIG. 1 as an infrastructure
basic service set (BSS), in other implementations, the WLAN 120 may
be an independent basic service set (IBSS), an ad-hoc network, or a
peer-to-peer (P2P) network (such as operating according to the
Wi-Fi Direct protocols).
[0035] Each of the stations STA1-STA4 may be any suitable wireless
device including, for example, a cell phone, personal digital
assistant (PDA), tablet device, laptop computer, or the like. Each
of the stations STA1-STA4 may also be referred to as a user
equipment (UE), a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber
unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless
device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile
subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a
wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a
mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology. In
some implementations, each of the stations STA1-STA4 may include
one or more transceivers, one or more processing resources, one or
more memory resources, and a power source (such as a battery). The
memory resources may include a non-transitory computer-readable
medium (such as one or more nonvolatile memory elements, such as
EPROM, EEPROM, Flash memory, a hard drive, etc.) that stores
instructions for performing operations described below with respect
to FIGS. 10-12.
[0036] The AP 110 may be any suitable device that allows one or
more wireless devices to connect to a network (such as a local area
network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), metropolitan area network
(MAN), or the Internet) via the AP 110 using wireless
communications such as, for example, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular
communications. In some implementations, the AP 110 may include one
or more transceivers, one or more processing resources, one or more
memory resources, and a power source. The memory resources may
include a non-transitory computer-readable medium (such as one or
more nonvolatile memory elements, such as EPROM, EEPROM, Flash
memory, a hard drive, etc.) that stores instructions for performing
operations described below with respect to FIGS. 10-12.
[0037] For the stations STA1-STA4 and the AP 110, the one or more
transceivers may include Wi-Fi transceivers, Bluetooth
transceivers, cellular transceivers, and any other suitable radio
frequency (RF) transceivers (not shown for simplicity) to transmit
and receive wireless communication signals. Each transceiver may
communicate with other wireless devices in distinct operating
frequency bands, using distinct communication protocols, or both.
For example, the Wi-Fi transceiver may communicate within a 900 MHz
frequency band, a 2.4 GHz frequency band, a 5 GHz frequency band,
and a 60 MHz frequency band in accordance with the IEEE 802.11
standards. The Bluetooth transceiver may communicate within the 2.4
GHz frequency band in accordance with the standards provided by the
Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), in accordance with the IEEE
802.15 standards, or both. The cellular transceiver may communicate
within various RF frequency bands in accordance with any suitable
cellular communications standard.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an example wireless station
(STA) 200. In some implementations, the STA 200 may be one example
of one or more of the wireless stations STA1-STA4 of FIG. 1. The
STA 200 may include a display 202, input/output (I/O) components
204, a physical-layer device (PHY) 210, a MAC 220, a processor 230,
a memory 240, and a number of antennas 250(1)-250(n). The display
202 may be any suitable display or screen upon which items may be
presented to a user (such as for viewing, reading, or watching). In
some aspects, the display 202 may be a touch-sensitive display that
allows for user interaction with the STA 200 and that allows the
user to control one or more operations of the STA 200. The I/O
components 204 may be or include any suitable mechanism, interface,
or device to receive input (such as commands) from the user and to
provide output to the user. For example, the I/O components 204 may
include (but are not limited to) a graphical user interface,
keyboard, mouse, microphone, speakers, and so on.
[0039] The PHY 210 may include at least a number of transceivers
211 and a baseband processor 212. The transceivers 211 may be
coupled to the antennas 250(1)-250(n), either directly or through
an antenna selection circuit (not shown for simplicity). The
transceivers 211 may be used to transmit signals to and receive
signals from the AP 110 and other STAs (see also FIG. 1), and may
be used to scan the surrounding environment to detect and identify
nearby access points and other STAs (such as within wireless range
of the STA 200). Although not shown in FIG. 2 for simplicity, the
transceivers 211 may include any number of transmit chains to
process and transmit signals to other wireless devices via the
antennas 250(1)-250(n), and may include any number of receive
chains to process signals received from the antennas 250(1)-250(n).
In some implementations, the STA 200 may be configured for MIMO
operations. The MIMO operations may include SU-MIMO operations and
MU-MIMO operations. The STA 200 also may be configured for OFDMA
communications and other suitable multiple access mechanisms, for
example, as may be provided by the IEEE 802.11ax specification.
[0040] The baseband processor 212 may be used to process signals
received from the processor 230 or the memory 240 (or both) and to
forward the processed signals to the transceivers 211 for
transmission via one or more of the antennas 250(1)-250(n). The
baseband processor 212 also may be used to process signals received
from one or more of the antennas 250(1)-250(n) via the transceivers
211 and to forward the processed signals to the processor 230 or
the memory 240 (or both).
[0041] The MAC 220 may include at least a number of contention
engines 221 and frame formatting circuitry 222. The contention
engines 221 may contend for access to a shared wireless medium (or
contend for access to one or more resource units), and also may
store packets for transmission over the shared wireless medium
(such as using one or more resource units). The STA 200 may include
one or more contention engines 221 for each of a plurality of
different access categories. In other implementations, the
contention engines 221 may be separate from the MAC 220. For still
other implementations, the contention engines 221 may be
implemented as one or more software modules (such as stored in the
memory 240 or stored in a memory provided within the MAC 220)
containing instructions that, when executed by the processor 230,
perform the functions of the contention engines 221.
[0042] The frame formatting circuitry 222 may be used to create and
format frames received from the processor 230 (such as by adding
MAC headers to PDUs provided by the processor 230), and may be used
to re-format frames received from the PHY 210 (such as by stripping
MAC headers from frames received from the PHY 210). Although the
example of FIG. 2 depicts the MAC 220 coupled to the memory 240 via
the processor 230, in other implementations, the PHY 210, the MAC
220, the processor 230, and the memory 240 may be connected using
one or more buses (not shown for simplicity).
[0043] The processor 230 may be any suitable one or more processors
capable of executing scripts or instructions of one or more
software programs stored in the STA 200 (such as within the memory
240). In some implementations, the processor 230 may be or include
one or more microprocessors providing the processor functionality
and external memory providing at least a portion of
machine-readable media. In other implementations, the processor 230
may be or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)
with the processor, the bus interface, the user interface, and at
least a portion of the machine-readable media integrated into a
single chip. In some other implementations, the processor 230 may
be or include one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or
Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs).
[0044] The memory 240 may include a device database 241 that stores
profile information for the STA 200 and for a number of other
wireless devices (such as APs and other STAs). The profile
information for the STA 200 may include, for example, its MAC
address, the basic service set identification (BSSID) of the basic
service set to which the STA 200 belongs, its bandwidth
capabilities, its supported channel access mechanisms, its
supported data rates, and so on. The profile information for a
particular AP may include, for example, the AP's BSSID, MAC
address, channel information, frequency hopping schedule, received
signal strength indicator (RSSI) values, goodput values, channel
state information (CSI), supported data rates, connection history
with the STA 200, a trustworthiness value of the AP (such as
indicating a level of confidence about the AP's location, etc.),
and any other suitable information pertaining to or describing the
operation of the AP.
[0045] The memory 240 also may include a frequency hopping database
242. The frequency hopping database 242 may store one or more
frequency hopping patterns, a frequency hopping schedule (such as
provided by an AP), one or more sequences of resource units (such
as allocated based on the frequency hopping schedule), a maximum
resource unit dwell time, an accumulated sequence period dwell
time, or any other suitable information pertaining to or describing
frequency hopping techniques employed by the STA 200.
[0046] The memory 240 may also include a non-transitory
computer-readable medium (such as one or more nonvolatile memory
elements, such as EPROM, EEPROM, Flash memory, a hard drive, and so
on) that may store at least the following software (SW) modules:
[0047] a frame formatting and exchange software module 243 to
facilitate the creation and exchange of any suitable frames (such
as data frames, action frames, control frames, and management
frames) between the STA 200 and other wireless devices, for
example, as described below for one or more operations of FIGS.
10-12; [0048] a trigger frame reception software module 244 to
receive trigger frames, to determine whether the trigger frames
allocate resource units (RUs) to the STA 200, and to determine
whether the trigger frames indicate a frequency hopping schedule,
for example, as described below for one or more operations of FIGS.
10-12; and [0049] a resource unit and frequency hopping decoding
software module 245 to determine which (if any) RUs are allocated
to the STA 200, and to decode frequency hopping schedules and RU
sequences for the STA 200, for example, as described below for one
or more operations of FIGS. 10-12. Each software module includes
instructions that, when executed by the processor 230, cause the
STA 200 to perform the corresponding functions. The non-transitory
computer-readable medium of the memory 240 thus includes
instructions for performing all or a portion of the operations
described below with respect to FIGS. 10-12.
[0050] The processor 230 may execute the frame formatting and
exchange software module 243 to facilitate the creation and
exchange of any suitable frames (such as data frames, action
frames, control frames, and management frames) between the STA 200
and other wireless devices. The processor may execute the trigger
frame reception software module 244 to receive trigger frames, to
determine whether the trigger frames allocate resource units (RUs)
to the STA 200, and to determine whether the trigger frames
indicate a frequency hopping schedule. The processor may execute
the resource unit and frequency hopping decoding software module
245 to determine which (if any) RUs are allocated to the STA 200,
and to decode frequency hopping schedules and RU sequences for the
STA 200.
[0051] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an example access point (AP)
300. In some implementations, the AP 300 may be one example of the
AP 110 of FIG. 1. The AP 300 may include a PHY 310, a MAC 320, a
processor 330, a memory 340, a network interface 350, and a number
of antennas 360(1)-360(n). The PHY 310 may include at least a
number of transceivers 311 and a baseband processor 312. The
transceivers 311 may be coupled to the antennas 360(1)-360(n),
either directly or through an antenna selection circuit (not shown
for simplicity). The transceivers 311 may be used to communicate
wirelessly with one or more STAs, with one or more other APs, and
with other suitable devices. Although not shown in FIG. 3 for
simplicity, the transceivers 311 may include any number of transmit
chains to process and transmit signals to other wireless devices
via the antennas 360(1)-360(n), and may include any number of
receive chains to process signals received from the antennas
360(1)-360(n). In some implementations, the AP 300 may be
configured for MIMO operations such as SU-MIMO operations and
MU-MIMO operations. The AP 300 also may be configured for OFDMA
communications and other suitable multiple access mechanisms, for
example, as may be provided by the IEEE 802.11ax specification.
[0052] The baseband processor 312 may be used to process signals
received from the processor 330 or the memory 340 (or both) and to
forward the processed signals to the transceivers 311 for
transmission via one or more of the antennas 360(1)-360(n). The
baseband processor 312 also may be used to process signals received
from one or more of the antennas 360(1)-360(n) via the transceivers
311 and to forward the processed signals to the processor 330 or
the memory 340 (or both).
[0053] The network interface 350 may be used to communicate with a
WLAN server (not shown for simplicity) either directly or via one
or more intervening networks and to transmit signals.
[0054] The MAC 320 may include at least a number of contention
engines 321 and frame formatting circuitry 322. The contention
engines 321 may contend for access to the shared wireless medium,
and also may store packets for transmission over the shared
wireless medium. In some implementations, the AP 300 may include
one or more contention engines 321 for each of a plurality of
different access categories. In other implementations, the
contention engines 321 may be separate from the MAC 320. For still
other implementations, the contention engines 321 may be
implemented as one or more software modules (such as stored in the
memory 340 or within a memory provided within the MAC 320)
containing instructions that, when executed by the processor 330,
perform the functions of the contention engines 321.
[0055] The frame formatting circuitry 322 may be used to create and
format frames received from the processor 330 (such as by adding
MAC headers to PDUs provided by the processor 330), and may be used
to re-format frames received from the PHY 310 (such as by stripping
MAC headers from frames received from the PHY 310). Although the
example of FIG. 3 depicts the MAC 320 coupled to the memory 340 via
the processor 330, in other implementations, the PHY 310, the MAC
320, the processor 330, and the memory 340 may be connected using
one or more buses (not shown for simplicity).
[0056] The processor 330 may be any suitable one or more processors
capable of executing scripts or instructions of one or more
software programs stored in the AP 300 (such as within the memory
340). In some implementations, the processor 330 may be or include
one or more microprocessors providing the processor functionality
and external memory providing at least a portion of
machine-readable media. In other implementations, the processor 330
may be or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)
with the processor, the bus interface, the user interface, and at
least a portion of the machine-readable media integrated into a
single chip. In some other implementations, the processor 330 may
be or include one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or
Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs).
[0057] The memory 340 may include a device database 341 that stores
profile information for a plurality of STAs. The profile
information for a particular STA may include, for example, its MAC
address, supported data rates, connection history with the AP 300,
one or more RUs allocated to the STA, a frequency hopping pattern
of the STA, one or more RU sequences allocated to the STA, and any
other suitable information pertaining to or describing the
operation of the STA.
[0058] The memory 340 also may include a non-transitory
computer-readable medium (such as one or more nonvolatile memory
elements, such as EPROM, EEPROM, Flash memory, a hard drive, and so
on) that may store at least the following software (SW) modules:
[0059] a frame formatting and exchange software module 342 to
facilitate the creation and exchange of any suitable frames (such
as data frames, action frames, control frames, and management
frames) between the AP 300 and other wireless devices, for example,
as described below for one or more operations of FIGS. 10-12;
[0060] a frequency hopping pattern and scheduling SW module 343 to
select a unique frequency hopping pattern for each of a number of
wireless devices and to determine or select a frequency hopping
schedule based on the unique frequency hopping patterns, for
example, as described below for one or more operations of FIGS.
10-12; [0061] a resource unit (RU) allocation software module 344
to allocate unique sequences of RUs to the wireless devices (such
as based on frequency hopping schedules or unique frequency hopping
patterns), for example, as described below for one or more
operations of FIGS. 10-12; and [0062] an announcement software
module 345 to announce or otherwise indicate the frequency hopping
patterns, the frequency hopping schedule, and the allocation of
unique sequences of RUs to the wireless devices, for example, as
described below for one or more operations of FIGS. 10-12. Each
software module includes instructions that, when executed by the
processor 330, cause the AP 300 to perform the corresponding
functions. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of the
memory 340 thus includes instructions for performing all or a
portion of the operations described below with respect to FIGS.
10-12.
[0063] The processor 330 may execute the frame formatting and
exchange software module 342 to facilitate the creation and
exchange of any suitable frames (such as data frames, action
frames, control frames, and management frames) between the AP 300
and other wireless devices. The processor 330 may execute the
frequency hopping pattern and scheduling SW module 343 to select a
unique frequency hopping pattern for each of a number of wireless
devices that may qualify the wireless devices as frequency hopping
devices, and to determine or select a frequency hopping schedule
based on the unique frequency hopping patterns. The processor 330
may execute the resource unit allocation software module 344 to
allocate unique sequences of RUs to the wireless devices (such as
based on frequency hopping schedules or unique frequency hopping
patterns), for example, to allow the wireless devices to transmit
UL OFDMA communications using frequency hopping techniques. The
processor 330 may execute the announcement software module 345 to
announce or otherwise indicate the frequency hopping patterns, the
frequency hopping schedule, and the allocation of unique sequences
of RUs to the wireless devices.
[0064] As mentioned above, the IEEE 802.11ax specification may
introduce multiple access mechanisms, such as an orthogonal
frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) mechanism, to allow
multiple STAs to transmit and receive data on a shared wireless
medium at the same time. For a wireless network using OFDMA, the
available frequency spectrum may be divided into a plurality of
resource units (RUs) each including a number of different frequency
subcarriers, and different RUs may be allocated or assigned to
different wireless devices (such as STAs) at a given point in time.
In this manner, multiple wireless devices may concurrently transmit
data on the wireless medium using their assigned RUs or frequency
subcarriers. Because each RU may include a subset of the available
frequency subcarriers that is much smaller than the overall
frequency spectrum of the wireless medium, the IEEE 802.11ax
specification may allow wireless devices to transmit data to each
other using smaller channel bandwidths of 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz, and
16 MHz (such as compared to a primary 20 MHz channel and one or
more secondary channels of varying bandwidths).
[0065] FIG. 4 shows an example subcarrier allocation diagram 400
for an 80 MHz channel that may be used for narrowband
transmissions. As used herein, the term "narrowband transmissions"
may refer to transmissions using frequency bandwidths of less than
20 MHz. The wireless channel depicted in FIG. 4 may be divided into
a number of resource units (RUs), and each of the RUs may include a
number of subcarriers. For example, a first subcarrier allocation
410 may include a number of resource units RU1-RU37 each including
26 subcarriers, a second subcarrier allocation 420 may include a
number of resource units RU1-RU16 each including 52 subcarriers, a
third subcarrier allocation 430 may include a number of resource
units RU1-RU8 each including 106 subcarriers, a fourth subcarrier
allocation 440 may include a number of resource units RU1-RU4 each
including 242 subcarriers, a fifth subcarrier allocation 450 may
include a number of resource units RU1-RU2 each including 484
subcarriers, and a sixth subcarrier allocation 460 may include one
RU including 996 subcarriers (with the left half of the channel for
single-user (SU) operations). For each of the example subcarrier
allocations 410, 420, 430, 440, 450, and 460 depicted in FIG. 4,
adjacent RUs may be separated by a null subcarrier (such as a DC
subcarrier), for example, to reduce leakage between adjacent RUs.
It is noted that the numbers 26, 52, 106, 242, 484, and 996 in the
example subcarrier allocation diagram 400 represent the number of
frequency subcarriers in each of the resource units for a
corresponding subcarrier allocation.
[0066] An AP may allocate specific or dedicated RUs to a number of
wireless devices using a trigger frame. In some implementations,
the trigger frame may identify a number of STAs associated with the
AP, and may solicit uplink (UL) multi-user (MU) data transmissions
from the identified STAs using their allocated RUs. The trigger
frame may use association identification (AID) values, assigned by
the AP to its associated STAs, to identify which STAs are to
transmit UL data to the AP in response to the trigger frame. In
some aspects, the trigger frame may indicate the RU size and
location, the modulation and coding scheme (MCS), and the power
level for UL transmissions to be used by each of the STAs
identified in the trigger frame. As used herein, the RU size may
indicate the bandwidth of the RU, and the RU location may indicate
which frequency subcarriers are allocated to the RU.
[0067] FIG. 5 shows a sequence diagram 500 depicting an example
allocation of resource units (RUs) for uplink (UL) transmissions.
The AP of FIG. 5 may be any suitable AP including, for example, the
AP 110 of FIG. 1 or the AP 300 of FIG. 3. Each of the wireless
stations STA1-STAn may be any suitable wireless station including,
for example, the stations STA1-STA4 of FIG. 1 or the STA 200 of
FIG. 2. In some implementations, the AP may contend for medium
access during a backoff period or a point coordination function
(PCF) interframe space (PIFS) duration (such as between times
t.sub.1 and t.sub.2). In other implementations, the AP may contend
for medium access using another suitable channel access mechanism.
In some other implementations, the AP may utilize a multiple
channel access mechanism, for example, and may not contend for
medium access.
[0068] The AP gains access to the wireless medium at time t.sub.2,
and may transmit a trigger frame 502 to the stations STA1-STAn on a
downlink (DL) channel Time t.sub.2 may indicate a beginning of a
transmit opportunity (TXOP) 508. The trigger frame 502 may allocate
a dedicated RU to each of a number of the stations STA1-STAn
identified by the trigger frame 502, and may solicit UL MU data
transmissions from the identified stations STA1-STAn. In some
aspects, the dedicated RUs allocated by the trigger frame 502 may
be unique, for example, so that the stations STA1-STAn may transmit
UL data to the AP at the same time (or at substantially the same
time).
[0069] The stations STA1-STAn may receive the trigger frame 502 at
(or around) time t.sub.3. Each of the identified stations STA1-STAn
may decode the trigger frame 502 to determine the size and location
of the dedicated RU allocated by the trigger frame 502. In some
aspects, the trigger frame 502 may schedule UL data transmissions
from the identified stations STA1-STAn to commence at an
unspecified interframe spacing (xIFS) duration after reception of
the trigger frame 502, for example, as depicted in the example of
FIG. 5.
[0070] At time t.sub.4, the identified stations STA1-STAn may begin
transmitting UL MU data 504 on their respective dedicated RUs. In
some aspects, each of the identified stations STA1-STAn may
determine whether the frequency band associated with its allocated
RU has been idle for a duration (such as a PIFS duration) prior to
transmitting UL MU data to the AP.
[0071] The AP may receive the UL MU data 504 from the identified
stations STA1-STAn at time t.sub.5, and may acknowledge reception
of the UL MU data 504 by transmitting a multi-station block
acknowledgement (M-BA) frame 506 to the stations STA1-STAn at time
t.sub.6. In some aspects, the AP may transmit the M-BA frame 506 a
short interframe spacing (SIFS) duration after receiving the UL MU
data 504 from the stations STA1-STAn. In other implementations, the
AP may transmit the M-BA frame 506 after another suitable
duration.
[0072] Wireless devices that transmit data using a relatively
narrow bandwidth may have a shorter range than wireless devices
that transmit data using a relatively wide bandwidth. In some
aspects, narrowband communications may refer to frequency ranges in
which the frequency response of the channel is relatively flat
(such that the gain is relatively constant for all frequencies),
and wideband communications may refer to frequency ranges that are
greater than narrowband communications (such that the frequency
response is not flat). A wideband wireless medium is typically
divided into a primary channel and one or more secondary channels.
The primary and secondary channels may be of various bandwidths,
and may be formed by bonding a number of 20 MHz channels together
to form 40 MHz channels, 80 MHz channels, or 160 MHz channels. In
some aspects, an 80 MHz frequency spectrum may be divided into a
primary 20 MHz channel, a secondary 20 MHz channel, and a secondary
40 MHz channel. In other aspects, an 80 MHz frequency spectrum may
be divided into a primary 40 MHz channel and a secondary 40 MHz
channel.
[0073] An AP operating in an OFDMA-based wireless network utilizing
an 80 MHz frequency spectrum may allocate RUs smaller than 20 MHz
to wireless devices for UL transmissions. In some aspects, the AP
may allocate relatively small RUs having sizes such as 2 MHz, 4
MHz, 8 MHz, and 16 MHz to wireless devices for UL transmissions.
Because power spectral density limits imposed by governmental
regulations are typically expressed as a function of power versus
frequency bandwidth, transmission power limits for a given RU are
typically proportional to the size of the RU. More specifically,
governmental regulations typically allow a wireless device to use
higher power levels to transmit wireless signals on a relatively
large RU (such as 20 MHz wide) than to transmit wireless signals on
a relatively small RU (such as 2 MHz wide).
[0074] In some implementations, if a wireless device is allocated
an RU having a number (N.sub.RU) of subcarriers in a wireless
network utilizing an 80 MHz channel having a total number
(N.sub.tot) of available subcarriers, then the power spectral
density (PSD) gain (G.sub.PSD) of the wireless device when
transmitting data using a smaller RU (as compared with the
allocated RU) may be expressed as G.sub.PSD=10 log
10(N.sub.tot/N.sub.RU). For example, the PSD gain of the wireless
device for transmissions using a 2 MHz RU may be expressed as
G.sub.PSD=10 log 10(37)=15.6 dB. Because a PSD gain of 15.6 dB
exceeds the 11 dBm/MHz PSD limit imposed on Wi-Fi devices by the
ETSI, the wireless device would need to reduce its transmission
power level to comply with the ETSI's PSD limits on Wi-Fi devices,
which in turn may undesirably decrease the range of the wireless
device.
[0075] In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a
wireless device may employ frequency hopping techniques for OFDMA
transmissions to qualify as a frequency hopping device. Because
frequency hopping devices are allowed higher transmit power levels
than Wi-Fi devices for a given transmission bandwidth, the ability
to qualify as a frequency hopping device may allow Wi-Fi devices to
transmit OFDMA communications at higher power levels than would be
possible without using frequency hopping techniques. In some
implementations, an AP may select a unique frequency hopping
pattern for each of a number of selected wireless devices, for
example, so that each of the selected wireless devices can qualify
as a frequency hopping device. The AP may combine the various
unique frequency hopping patterns into a frequency hopping
schedule, and allocate RUs to the selected wireless devices
according to the frequency hopping schedule. In some aspects, the
AP may select a predefined frequency hopping pattern for each of
the selected wireless devices. In other aspects, the AP may select
a proprietary frequency hopping pattern for each of the selected
wireless devices.
[0076] The AP may announce the frequency hopping schedule and the
allocated RUs to the selected wireless devices in any suitable
manner In some aspects, the AP may announce the frequency hopping
schedule and the allocated RUs to the selected wireless devices in
one or more trigger frames. In other aspects, the AP may announce
the frequency hopping schedule to the selected wireless devices in
a beacon frame, and may allocate RUs based on the frequency hopping
schedule to the selected wireless devices in one or more trigger
frames. In still other aspects, the AP may announce the frequency
hopping schedule to the selected wireless devices using any
suitable broadcast or multicast frame or packet.
[0077] By qualifying each of the wireless devices as a frequency
hopping device (rather than as a Wi-Fi device), aspects of the
present disclosure may allow the wireless devices to transmit
wireless signals at power levels greater than the PSD limits
imposed on OFDMA transmissions, which can increase the range of the
wireless devices. For example, by qualifying a wireless device
operating in Europe as a frequency hopping device, the wireless
device may transmit OFDMA communications on a 2 MHz RU using power
levels up to 20 dBm (such as compared to the ETSI's limit of 14 dBm
on OFDMA transmissions on a 2 MHz channel).
[0078] The AP may select or dynamically adjust the frequency
hopping patterns based on its geographic location, for example, so
that the AP and the selected wireless devices can comply with
applicable power spectral density limits for frequency hopping
devices. For one example, Japan considers a wireless device to be a
frequency hopping device in the 2.4 GHz band if the wireless device
hops over 15 or more channels and has a dwell time in each of the
channels that is less than 400 milliseconds (ms). For another
example, Europe considers a wireless device to be a frequency
hopping device in the 2.4 GHz band if the wireless device hops over
15 or more channels and the accumulated dwell time in each channel
is less than 15 ms over the frequency hopping duration.
[0079] In some implementations, the AP may select unique frequency
hopping patterns that do not assign the same frequency subcarriers
to the same wireless device for at least 15 successive
transmissions. More specifically, the AP may determine a frequency
hopping schedule and allocate unique sequences of RUs to its
wireless devices so that each of the wireless devices hops over at
least 15 different RUs (or channels), for example, to qualify the
wireless devices as frequency hopping devices in Europe and Japan.
In some aspects, the AP may select frequency hopping patterns to
ensure that each wireless device spends less than 400 ms
transmitting data on a given RU, for example, to qualify as a
frequency hopping device in Japan. In other aspects, the AP may
select frequency hopping patterns to ensure that the accumulated
dwell time for the wireless devices in each of the allocated RUs is
less than 15 ms over the frequency hopping sequence, for example,
to qualify as frequency hopping devices in Europe.
[0080] FIG. 6A shows a sequence diagram 600A depicting an example
allocation of resource units (RUs) based on frequency hopping. For
purposes of discussion herein, FIG. 6A depicts an access point (AP)
allocating RUs to a number of associated wireless stations
STA1-STA4. The AP may be any suitable AP including, for example,
the AP 110 of FIG. 1 or the AP 300 of FIG. 3. Each of the stations
STA1-STA4 may be any suitable wireless station including, for
example, the stations STA1-STA4 of FIG. 1 or the STA 200 of FIG.
2.
[0081] The AP may select a unique frequency hopping pattern for
each of its associated stations STA1-STA4, and may determine a
frequency hopping schedule for UL transmissions based on the
selected frequency hopping patterns. In some aspects, the frequency
hopping patterns selected by the AP may be based on the geographic
location of the AP. In other aspects, the frequency hopping
patterns selected by the AP also may depend upon the available
frequency spectrum, the number of available RUs, and the number of
subcarriers for each of the RUs.
[0082] In some implementations, the AP may contend for medium
access during a backoff period or a PIFS duration (such as between
times t.sub.1 and t.sub.2). In other implementations, the AP may
contend for medium access using another suitable channel access
mechanism. In some other implementations, the AP may utilize a
multiple channel access mechanism, for example, and may not contend
for medium access.
[0083] The AP gains access to the wireless medium at time t.sub.2,
which may be the beginning of a first TXOP 601. The AP may transmit
a trigger frame 610 to the stations STA1-STA4 on a DL channel In
some implementations, the trigger frame 610 may announce the
frequency hopping schedule to the stations STA1-STA4, and may
allocate a unique sequence of RUs to each of the stations STA1-STA4
based on the frequency hopping patterns selected by the AP. In some
aspects, the trigger frame 610 may indicate the RU sizes and
locations, the MCSs, and the power levels to be used by each of the
stations STA1-STA4 for UL transmissions using the allocated
RUs.
[0084] As depicted in FIG. 6A, the trigger frame 610 allocates
unique sequences of RUs for which each of the stations STA1-STA4 is
to use for frequency hopping during a sequence period. The sequence
period may include or be defined by the number of different RUs
between which a wireless device must hop to qualify as a frequency
hopping device. For example, if the AP is located where
governmental regulations define a frequency hopping device as a
device that hops over 15 different channels, then the sequence
period may correspond to the period of time during which the
stations STA1-STA4 hop between 15 different RUs.
[0085] In some implementations, the trigger frame 610 may indicate
that the allocation of RUs is based on a frequency hopping
schedule, and may indicate that the AP is instructing its
associated devices to employ frequency hopping techniques for UL
OFDMA transmissions. In some aspects, the RUs allocated to the
stations STA1-STA4 of FIG. 6A may be of different sizes. For
example, stations that have a relatively small amount of UL data
may be allocated relatively small RUs (such as 2 MHz), and stations
that have a relatively large amount of UL data may be allocated
relatively large RUs (such as 4 MHz, 8 MHz, or 16 MHz).
[0086] The stations STA1-STA4 may receive the trigger frame 610 at
(or around) time t.sub.3. Upon receiving the trigger frame 610,
each of the stations STA1-STA4 may extract the frequency hopping
schedule and may determine its unique sequence of RUs allocated by
the AP. In some aspects, the frequency hopping schedule may
instruct each of the stations STA1-STA4 to dwell less than a
duration on each of the allocated RUs (such as for less than 400 ms
per RU when the AP is located in Japan). In other aspects, the
frequency hopping schedule may instruct each of the stations
STA1-STA4 that the accumulated dwell time is to be less than 15 ms
over the sequence period (such as when the AP is operating in
Europe).
[0087] At time t.sub.4, each of the stations STA1-STA4 may begin
transmitting UL MU data 612 on its unique RU. For the example of
FIG. 6A, the first station STA1 transmits UL MU data 612 on
resource unit RU1, the second station STA2 transmits UL MU data 612
on resource unit RU16, the third station STA3 transmits UL MU data
612 on resource unit RU21, and the fourth station STA4 transmits UL
MU data 612 on resource unit RU26. In this manner, each of the
stations STA1-STA4 may transmit UL MU data to the AP at the same
time (or substantially the same time) using different RUs.
[0088] The trigger frame 610 may solicit UL data transmissions from
the stations STA1-STA4 to commence at an unspecified interframe
spacing (xIFS) duration after reception of the trigger frame 610.
In some aspects, the trigger frame 610 may include a channel sense
(CS) bit indicating whether the stations STA1-STA4 should sense the
channel prior to transmitting UL MU data. For one example, if the
CS bit is asserted, then each of the stations STA1-STA4 may
determine whether the frequency band of its allocated RU has been
idle for a duration (such as a PIFS duration) prior to transmitting
UL MU data to the AP. For another example, if the CS bit is not
asserted, then the stations STA1-STA4 may commence UL transmissions
upon expiration of the xIFS duration.
[0089] The AP may receive the UL MU data 612 from the stations
STA1-STA4 at time t.sub.5, and may acknowledge reception of the UL
MU data 612 by transmitting a multi-station block acknowledgement
(M-BA) frame 616 to the stations STA1-STA4 at time t.sub.6. In some
aspects, the AP may transmit the M-BA frame 616 a short interframe
spacing (SIFS) duration after receiving the UL MU data from the
stations STA1-STA4. In other implementations, the AP may transmit
the M-BA frame 616 after another suitable duration. The stations
STA1-STA4 receive the M-BA frame 616 at time t.sub.7, which may
signal the end of the first TXOP 601.
[0090] After a duration, the AP may transmit a second trigger frame
620 to the stations STA1-STA4. The second trigger frame 620, which
may signal a beginning of a second TXOP 602, may solicit UL
transmissions from the stations STA1-STA4 on their allocated RUs.
For the example of FIG. 6A, the first station STA1 transmits UL MU
data 622 on resource unit RU2, the second station STA2 transmits UL
MU data 622 on resource unit RU17, the third station STA3 transmits
UL MU data 622 on resource unit RU22, and the fourth station STA4
transmits UL MU data 622 on resource unit RU27. Because the first
trigger frame 610 has already informed the stations STA1-STA4 of
the frequency hopping schedule and has already allocated unique
sequences of RUs to each of the stations STA1-STA4 for the sequence
period, the second trigger frame 620 may not contain the frequency
hopping schedule and may not allocate RUs to the stations STA1-STA4
(such as to minimize the size and transmit duration of the second
trigger frame 620).
[0091] The AP may acknowledge reception of the UL MU data 622 by
transmitting a second M-BA frame 626 to the stations STA1-STA4.
Reception of the second M-BA frame 626 by the stations STA1-STA4
may signal the end of the second TXOP 602. The stations STA1-STA4
may continue transmitting UL MU data to the AP in this manner, for
example, such that (1) during any given TXOP each of the stations
STA1-STA4 is allocated a different RU and (2) each of the stations
STA1-STA4 does not transmit UL data on the same RU in any given
sequence period (such as 15 TXOPs).
[0092] FIG. 6B shows a sequence diagram 600B depicting another
example allocation of resource units (RUs) based on frequency
hopping. The sequence diagram 600B of FIG. 6B is similar to the
sequence diagram 600A of FIG. 6A, except that instead of
transmitting a trigger frame that announces the frequency hopping
schedule and that allocates unique sequences of RUs for the entire
sequence period, the AP transmits a trigger frame 611, at time
t.sub.2, that allocates RUs to the stations STA1-STA4 for the
corresponding TXOP 601. Each of the stations STA1-STA4 receives the
trigger frame 611, identifies its allocated RU, and then transmits
UL MU data to the AP using its allocated RU. After the first TXOP
601 ends, the AP transmits a second trigger frame 621 that
allocates RUs to the stations STA1-STA4 for the second TXOP 602.
Each of the stations STA1-STA4 receives the second trigger frame
621, identifies its allocated RU, and then transmits UL MU data to
the AP using its allocated RU. The stations STA1-STA4 may continue
transmitting UL MU data to the AP in this manner, for example, such
that (1) at the beginning of each TXOP the AP transmits a trigger
frame to allocate unique RUs to the stations STA1-STA4, and (2)
each of the stations STA1-STA4 does not transmit UL data on the
same RU in any given sequence period (such as 15 TXOPs).
[0093] FIG. 7A shows an illustration 700 depicting example
sequences of RUs that may be used for frequency hopping during
OFDMA transmissions. For purposes of discussed herein, the unique
RU sequences 701-704 depicted in the illustration 700 may be used
by respective stations STA1-STA4 of FIGS. 6A and 6B for
transmitting UL data. It is to be understood that the unique RU
sequences 701-704 may be used by other wireless devices to qualify
as frequency hopping devices during OFDMA transmissions, and that
the stations STA1-STA4 of FIGS. 6A and 6B may use other suitable
sequences of RUs to qualify as frequency hopping devices during
OFDMA transmissions.
[0094] Each of the unique RU sequences 701-704 is shown to include
15 different RUs that may be used by a respective one of the
stations STA1-STA4 to transmit UL data using OFDMA communications
during a sequence period 710. Although the unique RU sequences
701-704 may include some of the same RUs, each of the unique RU
sequences 701-704 includes only one instance of any given RU, and
the same RU is not allocated to more than one of the unique RU
sequences 701-704 at the same time.
[0095] In some implementations, the RUs within the unique RU
sequences 701-704 may each be allocated to a corresponding station
for a duration equal to (or substantially equal to) the channel
dwell time specified for frequency hopping devices. For example,
when the AP is located in Japan, each of the RUs within a given one
of the unique RU sequences 701-704 may be allocated to a
corresponding station for no more than 400 ms. In other
implementations, the accumulated dwell time in each RU is less than
an amount over the duration of the sequence period 710. For
example, when the AP is located in Europe, the accumulated dwell
time in each RU is less than 15 ms over the duration of the
sequence period 710.
[0096] In addition, or in the alternative, each of the RUs within a
given one of the unique RU sequences 701-704 may correspond to a
TXOP. For the example of FIG. 7A, the first station STA1 may
transmit UL data using RU1 during a first TXOP, may transmit UL
data using RU2 during a second TXOP, may transmit UL data using RU3
during a third TXOP, and so on, and then transmit UL data using
RU15 during a fifteenth TXOP. The second station STA2 may transmit
UL data using RU16 during the first TXOP, may transmit UL data
using RU17 during the second TXOP, may transmit UL data using RU18
during the third TXOP, and so on, and then transmit UL data using
RU10 during the fifteenth TXOP. The third station STA3 may transmit
UL data using RU21 during the first TXOP, may transmit UL data
using RU22 during the second TXOP, may transmit UL data using RU23
during the third TXOP, and so on, and then transmit UL data using
RU5 during the fifteenth TXOP. The fourth station STA4 may transmit
UL data using RU26 during the first TXOP, may transmit UL data
using RU27 during the second TXOP, may transmit UL data using RU28
during the third TXOP, and so on, and then transmit UL data using
RU20 during the fifteenth TXOP.
[0097] By using the unique RU sequences 701-704 to frequency hop
during OFDMA transmissions, each of the stations STA1-STA4 may
qualify as a frequency hopping device, and thus use transmission
power levels imposed on frequency hopping devices. Because many
governmental regulations allow higher transmission power levels for
frequency hopping devices than for wireless devices using OFDMA
communications, the ability to qualify as frequency hopping devices
may allow the stations STA1-STA4 to increase their transmission
power levels without violating PSD limits. For example, if the
stations STA1-STA4 are operating in a wireless network located in
Europe, the ability to qualify as frequency hopping devices may
allow the stations STA1-STA4 to increase their transmission power
levels from approximately 14 dBm (such as imposed on wireless
devices using OFDMA transmissions) to approximately 20 dBm (such as
imposed on frequency hopping devices). In this manner, aspects of
the present disclosure may increase the wireless range of the
stations STA1-STA4 without violating power spectral density
limits.
[0098] FIG. 7B shows an illustrative table 720 depicting an example
construction of the unique RU sequence 701 of FIG. 7A. The example
construction of the unique RU sequence 701 is described below in
the context of an 80 MHz Wi-Fi network. It is to be understood that
the example construction of the unique RU sequence 701, or
derivations thereof, also may be applicable to wireless networks
utilizing other frequency bandwidths (such as a 40 MHz
bandwidth).
[0099] Referring also to FIG. 4, the IEEE 802.11ax specification
may specify that an 80 MHz channel includes thirty-seven (37) 2 MHz
RUs. In some implementations, an AP may assign each of the
thirty-seven RUs (denoted as RU1-RU37 in FIG. 7B) an initial count
value of "0." An RU having a count value of "0" may be available
for allocation to one of the AP's associated devices for UL OFDMA
transmissions during a next TXOP.
[0100] When the AP initially allocates an RU to a wireless device
for UL OFDMA transmissions, the AP may reset the count value of the
RU to a maximum count value of "15." For each subsequent TXOP, the
AP may select one of the RUs that has a count value of "0," and may
decrement the count values of all RUs previously allocated to the
wireless device by a value of "1." This process of allocating
unique RUs to the wireless device may continue until the wireless
device has transmitted UL MU data on at least 15 different RUs
(which may correspond to a sequence period for the wireless
device). A similar process may be performed for each of the
wireless devices identified for UL transmissions by the trigger
frame. In this manner, the AP may ensure that none of its wireless
devices transmits UL data on the same RU for at least 15 TXOPs.
[0101] In some aspects, the maximum count value may be based on the
number of successive channel hops for which a wireless device can
qualify as a frequency hopping device. Thus, in locations such as
Japan and Europe, when an RU is initially allocated to a wireless
device for UL OFDMA transmissions, the AP may reset its count value
to a maximum count value of "15," for example, because both Japan
and Europe consider a wireless device to be a frequency hopping
device based at least in part on the wireless device hopping
between 15 different channels (or RUs) within a given sequence
period. For other locations, the maximum count value may be set to
another suitable number depending, for example, on applicable
governmental regulations for qualifying a wireless device as a
frequency hopping device.
[0102] For the example of FIG. 7B, the AP allocates RU1 to STA1
during the first TXOP, and resets the count value of RU1 to 15. For
the second TXOP, the AP allocates RU2 to STA1, resets the count
value of RU2 to 15, and decrements the count value of RU1 to 14.
For the third TXOP, the AP allocates RU3 to STA1, resets the count
value of RU3 to 15, decrements the count value of RU2 to 14, and
decrements the count value of RU1 to 13. For the fourth TXOP, the
AP allocates RU4 to STA1, resets the count value of RU4 to 15,
decrements the count value of RU3 to 14, decrements the count value
of RU2 to 13, and decrements the count value of RU1 to 12. This
process may continue until the AP has allocated 15 different RUs to
STA1, for example, during a sequence period that spans 15 RUs.
Thus, for the fifteenth TXOP, the AP may allocate RU15 to STA1,
reset its count value to 15, and decrement each of the count values
of the previously allocated resource units RU1-RU14 by 1, for
example, as depicted in the table 720 of FIG. 7B.
[0103] The AP may construct unique RU sequences for other wireless
devices in a similar manner, for example, by staggering the
allocation of RUs in a manner that prevents the same RU from being
used by more than one wireless device in a given TXOP. For example,
the AP may use the example table 720 to construct unique RU
sequences 702-704 for respective stations STA2-STA4 of FIG. 7A.
[0104] In other implementations, the AP may use negative numbers
(rather than positive numbers) to determine when previously used
RUs may again be available for allocation to wireless devices. For
example, when the AP allocates an RU to a wireless device during a
TXOP, the AP may reset the count value of the RU to a minimum
weight value of "-15" (or other number based on the number of
successive channel hops for a wireless device to qualify as a
frequency hopping device). Then, the AP may increment the count
value for previously allocated RUs by "1" (such as to a more
positive number) during each subsequent TXOP. When the count value
for a given RU has been incremented to its initial count value of
"0," the given RU may once again be allocated by the AP to one of
its wireless devices for UL OFDMA transmissions.
[0105] FIG. 8 shows an example trigger frame 800. The trigger frame
800 may be used as the trigger frame 610 of FIG. 6A or as the
trigger frame 620 of FIG. 6B. The trigger frame 800 is shown to
include a frame control field 801, a duration field 802, a receiver
address (RA) field 803, a transmitter address (TA) field 804, a
Common Info field 805, a number of Per User Info fields
806(1)-806(n), and a frame check sequence (FCS) field 807.
[0106] The frame control field 801 includes a Type field 801A and a
Sub-type field 801B. The Type field 801A may store a value to
indicate that the trigger frame 800 is a control frame, and the
Sub-type field 801B may store a value indicating a type of the
trigger frame 800. The duration field 802 may store information
indicating a duration or length of the trigger frame 800. The RA
field 803 may store the address of a receiving device (such as one
of the wireless stations STA1-STA4 of FIGS. 6A and 6B). The TA
field 804 may store the address of a transmitting device (such as
the AP of FIGS. 6A and 6B). The Common Info field 805 may store
information common to one or more receiving devices. Each of the
Per User Info fields 806(1)-806(n) may store information for a
particular receiving device, as described in more detail below with
respect to FIG. 9B. The FCS field 807 may store a frame check
sequence (such as for error detection). In some implementations,
the Common Info field 805 may store a frequency hopping schedule.
In other implementations, the frequency hopping schedule may be
stored in an information element (IE) or a vendor-specific
information element (VSIE) included within or appended to the
trigger frame 800 (the IE and VSIE not shown for simplicity). In
some other implementations, the frequency hopping schedule may be
stored in a packet extension appended to the trigger frame 800 (the
packet extension not shown for simplicity).
[0107] FIG. 9A shows an example Common Info field 900. The Common
Info field 900 may be one implementation of the Common Info field
805 of the trigger frame 800 of FIG. 8. The Common Info field 900
is shown to include a length subfield 901, a cascade indication
subfield 902, a high-efficiency signaling A (HE-SIG-A) info
subfield 903, a cyclic prefix (CP) and legacy training field (LTF)
type subfield 904, a trigger type subfield 905, and a
trigger-dependent common info subfield 906. The length subfield 901
may indicate the length of a legacy signaling field of the UL data
frames to be transmitted in response to the trigger frame 800. The
cascade indication subfield 902 may indicate whether a subsequent
trigger frame follows the current trigger frame. For example, the
cascade indication subfield 902 of the trigger frame 611 of FIG. 6B
may indicate that trigger frame 621 is to follow the trigger frame
611.
[0108] The HE-SIG-A Info subfield 903 may indicate the contents of
a HE-SIG-A field of the UL data frames to be transmitted in
response to the trigger frame 800. The CP and LTF type subfield 904
may indicate the cyclic prefix and HE-LTF type of the UL data
frames to be transmitted in response to the trigger frame 600. The
trigger type subfield 905 may indicate the type of trigger frame.
The trigger-dependent common info subfield 906 may indicate
trigger-dependent information. In some aspects, the
trigger-dependent common info subfield 906 may store a frequency
hopping schedule.
[0109] FIG. 9B shows an example Per User Info field 910. The Per
User Info field 910 may be one implementation of the Per User Info
fields 806(1)-806(n) of the trigger frame 800 of FIG. 8. The Per
User Info field 910 is shown to include a User Identifier subfield
911, an RU Allocation subfield 912, a Coding Type subfield 913, an
MCS subfield 914, a dual-carrier modulation (DCM) subfield 915, a
spatial stream (SS) Allocation subfield 916, and a
trigger-dependent Per User info subfield 917. The User Identifier
subfield 911 may indicate the association identification (AID) of
the STA to which a dedicated RU is allocated for transmitting UL MU
data. The RU Allocation subfield 912 may identify the dedicated RU
allocated to the corresponding STA (such as the STA identified by
the User Identifier subfield 911). The Coding Type subfield 913 may
indicate the type of coding to be used by the corresponding STA
when transmitting UL data using the allocated RU. The MCS subfield
914 may indicate the MCS to be used by the corresponding STA when
transmitting UL data using the allocated RU. The DCM subfield 915
may indicate the dual carrier modulation to be used by the
corresponding STA when transmitting UL data using the allocated RU.
The SS Allocation subfield 916 may indicate the number of spatial
streams to be used by the corresponding STA when transmitting UL
data using the allocated RU.
[0110] The trigger-dependent Per User info subfield 917 may store
information, for the STA identified by User Identifier subfield
911, that depends upon the type of trigger frame. For example, if
the trigger frame is a multi-user block acknowledgement request
(MU-BAR) frame, then the trigger-dependent Per User info subfield
917 may store BAR control parameters and BAR information. In some
aspects, the trigger-dependent Per User info subfield 917 may store
a frequency hopping pattern for a corresponding STA.
[0111] FIG. 10 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting an
example operation 1000 for qualifying a wireless device as a
frequency hopping device. Although the example operation 1000 is
described below in the context of an AP allocating resource units
to a wireless device, it is to be understood that any suitable
wireless device may perform the operation 1000 of FIG. 10. For some
implementations, the wireless device may be an example of one of
the stations STA1-STA4 of FIG. 1 or the STA 200 of FIG. 2, and the
AP may be an example of the AP 110 of FIG. 1 or the AP 300 of FIG.
3.
[0112] The AP may determine a frequency hopping pattern for the
wireless device (1002). In some implementations, the frequency
hopping pattern may be based on governmental regulations indicating
qualifications to be considered as a frequency hopping device. In
some aspects, the frequency hopping pattern may indicate that the
wireless device is to hop between 15 or more unique frequency bands
during a time period. The frequency hopping pattern also may
indicate a maximum dwell time on each of the unique frequency bands
or may indicate that an accumulated dwell time in the unique
frequency bands is to be no more than a time period greater than a
duration of the frequency hopping sequence.
[0113] The AP may announce the frequency hopping pattern to the
wireless device (1004). In some implementations, the AP may
announce the frequency hopping pattern in a beacon frame. The
beacon frame also may include a frequency hopping schedule for a
number of wireless devices associated with the AP. In some aspects,
the frequency hopping schedule may include or be formed by the
frequency hopping patterns of the number of wireless devices
associated with the AP. In other implementations, the AP may
announce the frequency hopping pattern in a trigger frame. The
trigger frame also may include the frequency hopping schedule for
multiple wireless devices associated with the AP.
[0114] The AP may allocate a sequence of unique resource units to
the wireless device based on the frequency hopping pattern (1006).
Each of the unique resource units includes a different set of
frequency subcarriers, for example, so that multiple wireless
devices can transmit uplink data at the same time. In some aspects,
each of the unique resource units may be associated with a
corresponding one of a series of transmit opportunities
(TXOPs).
[0115] In some implementations, the trigger frame may allocate the
sequence of unique resource units to the wireless device (1006A).
The trigger frame may contain an indication that the wireless
device is to successively frequency hop between more than a
specified number of the unique resource units. In addition, or in
the alternative, the trigger frame may contain one of an indication
that the wireless device is to dwell on each of the unique resource
units for less than a duration and an indication that an
accumulated dwell time in the unique resource units is to be no
more than a time period greater than a duration of the sequence of
unique resource units. In some aspects, the dwell time is 400
milliseconds, the time period is 15 milliseconds, and the sequence
includes at least 15 unique resource units.
[0116] In other implementations, each trigger frame may allocate
resource units to the wireless device for a corresponding TXOP, for
example, as described above with respect to FIG. 6B.
[0117] The AP may receive, from the wireless device, a series of
uplink orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA)
transmissions on the allocated sequence of unique resource units
during a sequence period (1008). Because the wireless device
switches or "hops" between different resource units while sending a
series of OFDMA transmissions to the AP in a manner consistent with
frequency hopping devices, the wireless device may qualify as a
frequency hopping device and transmit signals at higher power
levels associated with frequency hopping devices. In this manner,
aspects of the present disclosure may increase the range of the
wireless device.
[0118] FIG. 11 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting an
example operation 1100 for allocating resource units to a wireless
device. Although the example operation 1100 is described below in
the context of an AP allocating resource units to a wireless
device, it is to be understood that any suitable wireless device
may perform the operation 1100 of FIG. 11. For some
implementations, the wireless device may be an example of the
stations STA1-STA4 of FIG. 1 or the STA 200 of FIG. 2, and the AP
may be an example of the AP 110 of FIG. 1 or the AP 300 of FIG.
3.
[0119] The AP may assign, to each of a plurality of resource units,
a count value equal to zero (1102). For example, referring also to
FIG. 7B, the AP may assign each of the resource units RU1-RU37 an
initial count value of "0." A resource unit (RU) having a count
value of "0" may be available for allocation to one of the AP's
associated devices for UL OFDMA transmissions during a next
TXOP.
[0120] The AP may allocate a first of the plurality of resource
units to the wireless device for a first transmit opportunity
(TXOP) (1104), and then reset the count value of the first resource
unit to a maximum value based on its allocation to the wireless
device (1106). In some implementations, the maximum count value may
be "15," for example, because both Japan and Europe consider a
wireless device to be a frequency hopping device based at least in
part on the wireless device hopping between 15 different channels
(or RUs) within a given sequence period.
[0121] The AP may decrement the count value of the first resource
unit by one during a next TXOP (1108). In implementations for which
the maximum count value is "15," the AP may decrement the count
value of the first resource unit by one to "14." This process may
continue until the wireless device has transmitted UL MU data on at
least 15 different RUs, after which the count value of the first
resource unit will return to zero. Thereafter, the AP may again
allocate the first resource unit to the wireless device.
[0122] FIG. 12 shows an illustrative flow chart depicting an
example operation 1200 for a wireless station transmitting data
using resource units allocated based on a frequency hopping
schedule. For some implementations, the wireless station may be an
example of one of the stations STA1-STA4 of FIG. 1 or the STA 200
of FIG. 2.
[0123] The wireless station may receive a frequency hopping pattern
(1202), and may receive an allocation of a sequence of unique
resource units based on the frequency hopping pattern, each of the
unique resource units including a different set of frequency
subcarriers (1204). The frequency hopping pattern may be based on
governmental regulations indicating qualifications for a wireless
station to be considered as a frequency hopping device. In some
aspects, the frequency hopping pattern may indicate that the
wireless station is to hop between 15 or more unique frequency
bands during a time period. The frequency hopping pattern also may
indicate a maximum dwell time on each of the unique frequency bands
or may indicate that an accumulated dwell time in the unique
frequency bands is to be no more than a time period greater than a
duration of the frequency hopping sequence.
[0124] In some implementations, the wireless station may receive,
from an access point (AP), a trigger frame that allocates the
sequence of unique resource units to the wireless station and
indicates that the wireless station is to successively frequency
hop between more than a specified number of the unique resource
units. In some aspects, the trigger frame also may include the
frequency hopping pattern. In other aspects, the frequency hopping
pattern may be broadcast in a beacon frame.
[0125] In addition, or in the alternative, the trigger frame may
contain one of an indication that the wireless station is to dwell
on each of the unique resource units for less than a duration and
an indication that an accumulated dwell time in the unique resource
units is to be no more than a time period greater than a duration
of the sequence of unique resource units. In some aspects, the
dwell time is 400 milliseconds, the time period is 15 milliseconds,
and the sequence includes at least 15 unique resource units.
[0126] The wireless station may transmit a series of orthogonal
frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) data transmissions on
the allocated sequence of unique resource units during a sequence
period (1206). Each of the unique resource units may include a
different set of frequency subcarriers, for example, so that
multiple wireless stations can transmit uplink data at the same
time. In some aspects, each of the unique resource units may be
associated with a corresponding one of a series of transmit
opportunities (TXOPs). Because the wireless station switches or
"hops" between different resource units while sending a series of
OFDMA data transmissions (such as to the AP) in a manner consistent
with frequency hopping devices, the wireless station may qualify as
a frequency hopping device and transmit signals at higher power
levels associated with frequency hopping devices. In this manner,
aspects of the present disclosure may increase the range of the
wireless station.
[0127] As used herein, a phrase referring to "at least one of" a
list of items refers to any combination of those items, including
single members. As an example, "at least one of: a, b, or c" is
intended to cover: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c.
[0128] The various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules,
circuits and algorithm processes described in connection with the
implementations disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic
hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. The
interchangeability of hardware and software has been described
generally, in terms of functionality, and illustrated in the
various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits and
processes described above. Whether such functionality is
implemented in hardware or software depends upon the particular
application and design constraints imposed on the overall
system.
[0129] The hardware and data processing apparatus used to implement
the various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules and
circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein
may be implemented or performed with a general purpose single- or
multi-chip processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field
programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,
discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or
any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described
herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or,
any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state
machine. A processor also may be implemented as a combination of
computing devices such as, for example, a combination of a DSP and
a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more
microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such
configuration. In some implementations, particular processes and
methods may be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given
function.
[0130] In one or more aspects, the functions described may be
implemented in hardware, digital electronic circuitry, computer
software, firmware, including the structures disclosed in this
specification and their structural equivalents thereof, or in any
combination thereof. Implementations of the subject matter
described in this specification also can be implemented as one or
more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer
program instructions, encoded on a computer storage media for
execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing
apparatus.
[0131] If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on
or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a
computer-readable medium. The processes of a method or algorithm
disclosed herein may be implemented in a processor-executable
software module which may reside on a computer-readable medium.
Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and
communication media including any medium that can be enabled to
transfer a computer program from one place to another. A storage
media may be any available media that may be accessed by a
computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such
computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or
other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic
storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to store
desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures
and that may be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection can be
properly termed a computer-readable medium. Disk and disc, as used
herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc,
digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and blu-ray disc where
disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce
data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also
be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
Additionally, the operations of a method or algorithm may reside as
one or any combination or set of codes and instructions on a
machine readable medium and computer-readable medium, which may be
incorporated into a computer program product.
[0132] Various modifications to the implementations described in
this disclosure may be readily apparent to those skilled in the
art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to
other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of
this disclosure. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to
the implementations shown herein, but are to be accorded the widest
scope consistent with this disclosure, the principles and the novel
features disclosed herein.
* * * * *